[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 4, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42275-42276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19747]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 99-CE-01-AD; Amendment 39-11241; AD 99-16-06]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Model PA-
46-350P Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that
applies to certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-46-
350P airplanes. This AD requires installing reinforcement plates to the
wing forward and aft attach fittings. This AD is the result of a report
that sheet steel material that is below design strength standards may
have been utilized on the wing attach fittings on the Model PA-46-350P
airplanes manufactured since January 1995. The actions specified by
this AD are intended to prevent structural failure of the wing attach
fittings caused by the utilization of substandard material, which could
result in the wing separating from the airplane with consequent loss of
control.
DATES: Effective September 24, 1999.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of September 24, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained
from The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Customer Services, 2926 Piper Drive,
Vero Beach, Florida 32960. This information may also be examined at the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-01-AD, Room 1558,
601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of
the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700,
Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William O. Herderich, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, One Crown Center,
1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone:
(770) 703-6084; facsimile: (770) 703-6097.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD
A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain Piper Model
PA-46-350P airplanes was published in the Federal Register as a notice
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on March 19, 1999 (64 FR 13530). The NPRM
proposed to require installing reinforcement plates to the wing forward
and aft attach fittings by incorporating the Wing to Fuselage
Reinforcement Installation Kit, Piper part number 766-656.
Accomplishment of the proposed action as specified in the NPRM would be
required in accordance with the instructions to the above-referenced
kit, as referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No. 1027, dated November
19, 1998.
The NPRM was the result of a report that sheet steel material that
is below design strength standards may have
[[Page 42276]]
been utilized on the wing attach fittings on the Model PA-46-350P
airplanes manufactured since January 1995.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.
The FAA's Determination
After careful review of all available information related to the
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 185 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 30 workhours per
airplane to accomplish the installation, and that the average labor
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Piper will give warranty credit for
parts on all affected aircraft. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $333,000, or
$1,800 per airplane.
Piper has informed the FAA that parts have been distributed to
accomplish the installation on 6 of the affected airplanes. Presuming
that these parts were incorporated on 6 of the affected airplanes, this
will reduce the cost impact of this AD by $10,800 from $333,000 to
$322,200.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866;
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) will not have a
significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial
number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act. A copy of the final evaluation prepared for this
action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained
by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the
caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
99-16-06 The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Amendment 39-11241; Docket
No. 99-CE-01-AD.
Applicability: Model PA-46-350P airplanes, serial numbers
4622191 through 4622200 and 4636001 through 4636175, certificated in
any category.
Note 1: The affected serial numbers refer to airplanes that have
been delivered since January 1995 and could have insufficient
strength wing attach fittings installed. Airplanes manufactured
after serial number 4636175 have this problem corrected prior to
delivery.
Note 2: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished.
To prevent the potential for failure of the wing attach fittings
caused by the utilization of substandard material, which could
result in the wing separating from the airplane with consequent loss
of control of the airplane, accomplish the following:
(a) Install reinforcement plates to the wing forward and aft
attach fittings by incorporating the Wing to Fuselage Reinforcement
Installation Kit, Piper part number 766-656. Accomplishment of the
installation is required in accordance with the instructions to the
above-referenced kit, as referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No.
1027, dated November 19, 1998.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta,
Georgia 30349. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate
FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to
the Manager, Atlanta ACO.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Atlanta ACO.
(d) The installation required by this AD shall be done in
accordance with the instructions to the Wing to Fuselage
Reinforcement Installation Kit, Piper part number 766-656, dated
November 6, 1998, as referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No. 1027,
dated November 19, 1998. This incorporation by reference was
approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from The
New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Customer Services, 2926 Piper Drive, Vero
Beach, Florida 32960. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th
Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.
(e) This amendment becomes effective on September 24, 1999.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 26, 1999.
Mike Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-19747 Filed 8-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
